Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has warned he will crack down on any repeat of Monday night's violent protests in Budapest.

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has warned he will crack down on any repeat of Monday night's violent protests in Budapest.

Mr Gyurcsany said the protests, in which dozens of people were hurt, were Hungary's "longest and darkest night" since the end of communism in 1989.

Mr Gyurcsany said the protests, in which dozens of people were hurt, were Hungary's "longest and darkest night" since the end of communism in 1989.

The violence erupted at the state TV building following a largely peaceful rally calling on Mr Gyurcsany to quit.

The violence erupted at the state TV building following a largely peaceful rally calling on Mr Gyurcsany to quit.

In a leaked tape, Mr Gyurcsany admitted his government had lied to the public.

In a leaked tape, Mr Gyurcsany admitted his government had lied to the public.

His comments, which were recorded just after a general election in April, have prompted calls for his resignation from opposition parties.

His comments, which were recorded just after a general election in April, have prompted calls for his resignation from opposition parties.

But his own Socialist party, and the junior party in the ruling coalition, have stood behind the prime minister.

But his own Socialist party, and the junior party in the ruling coalition, have stood behind the prime minister.

Protesters storm station

Protesters storm station

Mr Gyurcsany has thus far withstood pressure to leave office and had vowed to push forward with tough economic reforms.

Mr Gyurcsany has thus far withstood pressure to leave office and had vowed to push forward with tough economic reforms.

"I had spent three minutes on Sunday night thinking about whether I should step down or whether I had a reason to step down, and the conclusion I came to is that absolutely not,"he told Reuters news agnecy.

"I had spent three minutes on Sunday night thinking about whether I should step down or whether I had a reason to step down, and the conclusion I came to is that absolutely not," he told Reuters news agnecy.

The prime minister also warned he would deal firmly with any further violent protests.

The prime minister also warned he would deal firmly with any further violent protests.

We lied in the morning, we lied in the evening Ferenc Gyurcsanyexcerpt from leaked tape

He said he had told police "to use all means to restore order", according to the national news agency MTI.

He said he had told police "to use all means to restore order", according to the national news agency MTI.

But reporters say a small crowd of protesters has been growing at Kossuth Square, where parliament is located, to demand Mr Gyurcsany's resignation.

But reporters say a small crowd of protesters has been growing at Kossuth Square, where parliament is located, to demand Mr Gyurcsany's resignation.

The trouble on Monday night began when a group of protesters left the large, mostly peaceful demonstration outside parliament and went to TV headquarters.

The trouble on Monday night began when a group of protesters left the large, mostly peaceful demonstration outside parliament and went to TV headquarters.

According to reports, they requested that a petition be read out on air, and when refused attacked the building.

According to reports, they requested that a petition be read out on air, and when refused attacked the building.

Riot police sent to contain the protest came under assault from protesters throwing cobblestones and bottles and setting cars alight. Inside the building, the protesters briefly forced state television off the air.

Riot police sent to contain the protest came under assault from protesters throwing cobblestones and bottles and setting cars alight. Inside the building, the protesters briefly forced state television off the air.

The police were forced to withdraw from the scene for several hours before returning to expel the protesters.

The police were forced to withdraw from the scene for several hours before returning to expel the protesters.

Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators

Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators

Officials said 150 people had been injured - 102 of them police officers, with one suffering serious head injuries.

Officials said 150 people had been injured - 102 of them police officers, with one suffering serious head injuries.

Overnight Justice Minister Jozsef Petretei, who oversees the police force, offered to resign over the violence, but his offer was rejected by Mr Gyurcsany.

Overnight Justice Minister Jozsef Petretei, who oversees the police force, offered to resign over the violence, but his offer was rejected by Mr Gyurcsany.

"Nothing like this has happened since 1956," one young protester told Reuters news agency, referring to Hungary's failed uprising against Soviet rule in October 1956.

"Nothing like this has happened since 1956," one young protester told Reuters news agency, referring to Hungary's failed uprising against Soviet rule in October 1956.

Hungarian TV reports that the national security cabinet met on Tuesday morning, and requested a briefing on the situation from the police.

Hungarian TV reports that the national security cabinet met on Tuesday morning, and requested a briefing on the situation from the police.

'We lied'

'We lied'

Mr Gyurcsany's comments which sparked the protests were heard in a tape of a meeting he held with his MPs a few weeks after April's election, and leaked to media on Sunday.

Mr Gyurcsany's comments which sparked the protests were heard in a tape of a meeting he held with his MPs a few weeks after April's election, and leaked to media on Sunday.

Mr Gyurcsany should resign... He and his "friends" should leave this country for good Protester, Budapest Send your comments

Mr Gyurcsany should resign... He and his "friends" should leave this country for good Protester, Budapest Send your comments

In excerpts broadcast on state radio, Mr Gyurcsany candidly admitted his government had accomplished "nothing" and had been lying for "the last year and a half to two years".

In excerpts broadcast on state radio, Mr Gyurcsany candidly admitted his government had accomplished "nothing" and had been lying for "the last year and a half to two years".

"We lied in the morning, we lied in the evening," he said in a speech punctuated by obscenities.

"We lied morning, noon and night," he said in a speech punctuated by obscenities.

Protests had already been planned this week over tough austerity measures imposed since the election.

Protests had already been planned this week over tough austerity measures imposed since the election.

The leaked revelations were, for some of the protesters, the straw which broke the camel's back, the BBC's Nick Thorpe reports.

The leaked revelations were, for some of the protesters, the straw which broke the camel's back, the BBC's Nick Thorpe reports.

Local elections are scheduled in two weeks' time and the Socialists and their liberal coalition allies are trailing the conservative opposition party Fidesz in the polls.

Local elections are scheduled in two weeks' time and the Socialists and their liberal coalition allies are trailing the conservative opposition party Fidesz in the polls.

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